Kristofer Collins: Asylum
for Kenneth Patchen
When the sky opens up I hurry for the bus shelter
hoping for some kind of asylum. I’ve nowhere to be and today
I just want to watch the rain. Things sure have gone to hell
just as you predicted. I hate it when you’re right.
I hate how the drivers here ignore the One Way sign
and just do whatever they want. I’ve seen some near misses
and I’ve see honest to God fender-benders. Everyone is
so damn careless. And I’m no different. I drink too much
and avoid my doctor. I’m going blind, did you know?
Pretty soon the shape of everything I love will be a memory.
Maybe that’s good. Maybe I’ll appreciate you more.
It doesn’t rain all the time here, but I only really think
of Pittsburgh in the rain. Just as I only think of you
when the bus doesn’t come and the rain becomes snow
filling the arc of each newly lit streetlamp like a riot
of the dispossessed.
Copyright 2017 Kristofer Collins
